Revelation 5:10 kings and priests???
Which is the correct reading in Revelation 5:10? In the KJV it states we have been made unto God kings and priests and WE will reign
Revelation 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. KJV
However, many modern versions say something very different
The NIV states made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve God and THEY will reign
Revelation 5:10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” NIV
The ESV has a similar rendering but excludes “serve”
Revelation 5:10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” ESV
As does the NASB
Revelation 5:10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”
So, which is it…kingdom or kings…. We are they ……serve or not???
There is a very big difference between being made KINGS….or a kingdom.
Hebrews 12:28 tells us that we RECEIVE a kingdom….not that we are a kingdom
Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
2 Timothy tells us that will reign WITH Christ
2 Timothy 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
As does revelation 20:4
Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
James tells us that we are heirs TO the kingdom….
James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
Reigning with Christ not being a kingdom….not the same thing.
The reading found in the KJV is the reading of all previous major English translations including Wycliffe 1395, Tyndale 1525, Coverdale 1535, Great Bible 1540, Matthews Bible 1549, Bishops Bible 1568 and Geneva Bible 1587
So It has a long history in the English translations.
It can be found in the Old latin manuscripts that predate any Greek that we have today.
It is the reading of the majority of the Greek manuscripts, but it is not found in Sinaiticus which actually reads “a kingdom and a priesthood”. However, this reading has been ignored.
Kings and priests is the reading found in Alexandrinus …BUT …..Alexandrinus omits “unto our God” which is the reading in the ESV. The words are found in Siniaticus…..cut and paste whatever seems to be be a good reading seems to be the order of the day here.
But wait…of course there is more. Alexandrinus has a present tense “they reign” while Siniaticus has a future tense “they shall reign”.
So if you thought Kingdom was the correct reading….it maybe not as slam dunk as you thought…..
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